Into each life, a little rain must fall. And if that rain happens to fall on your Disney day, you may be singing the blues. There’s still plenty of ways to have fun at the parks, though. Today, we’re looking at four ways to have fun at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on a rainy day.
Indoor Attractions or Attractions with Indoor Queues
Although many attractions at Animal Kingdom are outside, there are a few that can help take you out of the rain for a while, including It’s Tough to be a Bug and Dinosaur. Also, depending on line length, Flight of Passage has a queue that is partially indoors, and much of Kilimanjaro Safaris’ queue is under cover. A trip on the Wildlife Express is under cover, and then Conservation Station is inside.
Go Shopping for a While
Animal Kingdom has several unique shopping locations where you can spend some time to get out of the rain. You can read more about the variety that you can find here.
Grab a Drink and Watch the Crowds Go By
A good bar experience may not be what you think of when you think of Animal Kingdom, but two of our favorite bars at Walt Disney World can be found here. For a casual drink and good crowd-watching opportunities, Dawa Bar in Africa is highly recommended. Looking for an even more relaxing experience? Nomad Lounge, located near the Discovery Island bridge into Pandora offers quality drinks and food. You can see more of our recommendations here.
Ride Kali River Rapids
If it’s raining, you’re probably already wet. As long as it isn’t severe weather that necessitates a closure, why not enjoy riding on Kali River Rapids to get thoroughly soaked?
Do you have other favorite things to do at Animal Kingdom when it rains? Let us know in the comments.
Walt Disney World isn’t just for the young, but also for the young at heart! Yes, a Walt Disney World Vacation has more to offer adults than Dumbo the Flying Elephant and spinning teacups. In addition to award-winning dining and luxury resort hotels, Disney World offers signature quality and service where everything is an experience.
I searched through our Lines 2.0 app and compiled a list of the highest-rated attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom according to adults. Will you agree with our users’ ratings? Let’s take a look!
5. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is a self-guided walking trail located next to Kilimanjaro Safaris. Here guests encounter a variety of African wildlife including two troops of lowland gorillas.
According to the Lines 2.0 app ratings, adults of all ages enjoy this trail with seniors rating it slightly higher than young adults and those over 30.
Young Adults Rating: 4.2
Adults Over 30 Rating: 4.2
Seniors Rating: 4.3
Why Do Adults Love the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail?
(c) Disney
Unlike rides and shows, this trail allows guests to experience it at their own pace and their own way. The lush and shady trail is also a welcome escape from the relentless Florida sunshine, and the variety of animals from gorillas to hippos to meerkats to exotic birds makes this trail well worth the trek.
4. Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight
Winged Encounters at Animal Kingdom
This mini-show features colorful macaws flying over Discovery Island and then landing in front of the Tree of Life! It’s a gorgeous, picture-perfect display seemingly straight out of a movie.
Young adults scored Winged Encounters a little lower than the other two adult groups, but what’s surprising is that Lines 2.0 users rated this brief show higher than some of the park’s attractions!
Young Adults Rating: 4.1
Adults Over 30 Rating: 4.5
Seniors Rating: 4.5
Why Do Adults Love Winged Encounters?
Winged Encounters at Animal Kingdom
Winged Encounters is a photographer and Instagrammer’s dream. There’s nothing quite like seeing those bright, colorful birds swooping in front of the Tree of Life. Plus, once the birds have landed on their perch, guests are free to ask questions from Animal Kingdom’s bird care experts to learn more about them.
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is Animal Kingdom’s take on a runaway train coaster in a mountain. Think of it as a combo of Disneyland’s Matterhorn and the Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain. This highly detailed coaster takes guests in and out of the snowy Forbidden Mountain to escape the legendary Yeti!
This masterpiece of a coaster is clearly a crowd-pleaser among young adults and adults over 30 years and rightly so. But it looks like Expedition Everest’s drops and backward movement contributed to its lower score from seniors.
Young Adults Rating: 4.9
Adults Over 30 Rating: 4.8
Seniors Rating: 4.3
Why Do Adults Love Expedition Everest?
Expedition Everest is a masterclass in Disney storytelling and immersion. Plus, it sends guests in and out, up and down, and even backward in a man-made mountain that’s the tallest attraction at Walt Disney World. It checks all the boxes of a thrill ride but keeps guests coming back for its atmosphere and experience.
2. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kilimanjaro Safaris Entrance
Kilimanjaro Safaris is an open-air safari through 110 acres home to 34 species of wildlife and designed to look like an actual African reserve. While aboard, guests are treated to views of African wildlife roaming free through forests, grasslands, and savannas.
Adults of all ages rewarded Kilimanjaro Safaris a high rating meaning this particular attraction truly appeals to everyone.
Young Adults Rating: 4.7
Adults Over 30 Rating: 4.7
Seniors Rating: 4.8
Why Do Adults Love Kilimanjaro Safaris?
This attraction is about the closest you can get to an actual African safari and is an experience guests remember long after they’ve left the park. Guests also enjoy a variety of terrains and wildlife ranging from giraffes to elephants to cheetahs to lions. But since these are live animals, you never know which animals you might see and what they might be up to.
Flight of Passage is Pandora – The World of Avatar’s signature attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This flight simulator attraction creates the exhilaration of flight from the back of banshee over and through the breathtaking landscapes of Pandora. Flight of Passage is often compared to Epcot’s Soarin’ Around the World as it effectively simulates the sensation of flight and uses a giant screen coupled with scents and water effects. What makes Flight of Passage unique from Soarin’ Around the World is its use of 3-D coupled with unique ride vehicles.
Both young adults and adults over 30 gave Flight of Passage the highest ratings of all the Animal Kingdom attractions. Seniors awarded it high ratings, but not quite as high as they did for Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Young Adults Rating: 4.9
Over 30 Adults Rating: 4.9
Seniors Rating: 4.7
Why Do Adults Love Flight of Passage?
Flight of Passage is a thrill ride where guests remain stationary throughout the experience. They may feel like they’re flying, dipping, and moving at high speeds; in reality, they’ve never moved from their bike. Not only does this fact comfort adults who are wary of typical thrill rides, but the tone of the attraction is something adults love too.
On a typical Disney attraction, the action starts when something goes wrong. But on Flight of Passage, it’s not about what goes wrong but what goes right. It also offers an uplifting, inspiring tone that some have compared to a religious experience.
Do you agree with our Lines 2.0 app ratings? Which of these attractions would you rate as the highest? Let us know in the comments!
Filed Under: Adults, Attractions, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, animal kingdom attractions, Animal Kingdom For Adults, animal kingdom rides, disney world, Disney World For Adults, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest, Flight of Passage, Gorilla Falls, Gorilla Falls Trail, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Lines 2.0 app, pandora, walt disney world
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a good balance of animal experiences and attractions that range from thrills to relaxed chills. But there may be folks in your group that prefer to just chill and avoid the thrills. In that case it’s good to know where the exits to the rides they are not interested in are at so they can plan to meet up with you when you’re done.
If you want to meet up with your party at the exit area the options at Animal Kingdom are a little weak compared to other parks. But, you can also go through the queue with your party so you can stick together, and then let the Cast Member know you do not wish to ride, and they’ll direct you to where you can wait to meet your party. While in line, browse our Lines app to check out ratings for all the restaurants in the park. Place your lunch, snack, or dinner order through mobile ordering in the MyDisneyExperience app so your food will be ready when you’re done.
Rivers of Light Amphitheater for Expedition Everest Waiting
Here’s where to locate the exit for some of Animal Kingdom’s most popular attractions, and yes, some of them do exit into a gift shop.
Expedition Everest– The queue for this attraction is well detailed so you may want to consider at least walking through with your party. The “chicken exit” is easy to get to from the loading area. This attraction exits into the gift shop, without any seats nearby. But there is a small waiting area to the far right of the entrance, or you can sit in the Rivers of Light amphitheater.
Kali River Rapids – If you’re not up for getting wet like the rest of your group, there’s a few benches just on the other side of the bridge that riders will cross once they exit.
Kali River Rapids Exit AreaDINOSAUR Exit Area
DINOSAUR – Besides being a rough and often fast ride, DINOSAUR is dark at parts and loud. This ride exits into a merchandise shop, but there is a nice shaded area just outside the building, to the right of the entrance.
Kilimanjaro Safaris – Although Safaris is not a thrill ride, some folks may elect not to ride, like expectant mothers and those with heart or back conditions. The exit for Safaris is really awkward, down a winding trail near the entrance to Gorilla Falls. There are some tables and chairs near the ride’s entrance, and Harambe Market quick service is currently not open, but has tables and chairs available.
Avatar Flight of Passage – If you’d rather not uh… fly (this attraction is very thrilling after all), there is not much of a waiting area here. This ride does exit into a merchandise shop, and there are a few benches outside.
Flight of Passage Exit Area
I like to enjoy some quiet time while my party goes on thrill rides. I usually go grab a drink as soon as they get in line, and then grab a seat near the exit while I sip, sit, and people watch. Of course, in the park it is tempting to just sit and enjoy Nomad Lounge while I wait.
Do you prefer to stick together with your party, or enjoy some quiet from time to time?
We’ve become accustomed to Magic Kingdom being all decked out for Christmas as soon as the sun rises on November 1 in recent years. What we weren’t expecting was to see Animal Kingdom begin its holiday decorations so soon, and to be the lucky recipient of the first Holiday Exclusive treat. Last year marked the first year that Disney’s Animal Kingdom was decked out with holiday decorations in every section of the park. It will be interesting to see how much of that is brought back for the 2020 holiday season.
We’ll definitely be back to scope out the decorations once they are fully on display. For now, we hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the decorations that we spotted yesterday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
All photos were taken by Ivonne on our team, @servoisnaked on Twitter and Instagram.
Merry Menagerie Luminaries at Discovery IslandMerry Menagerie Luminaries at Discovery IslandMerry Menagerie Luminaries at Discovery IslandMerry Menagerie Luminaries at Discovery IslandLights Starting to Go Up at Dinoland USA
Another gift we received yesterday is the return of Pandora – World of Avatar, at night. With the time change yesterday, guests who visit during days with extended hours at Animal Kingdom (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays primarily) will be treated to the other worldly night setting offered at Pandora.
Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the holiday season? Become a TouringPlans Subscriber so you can give yourself the gift of avoiding long lines. Many of our users save 2-3 hours on an average day in the parks. You’ll have more time to enjoy the holiday cheer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and throughout Walt Disney World.
Did you get a chance to the new holiday decorations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom last year? What’s your favorite part?
From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Christmas, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Trip Planning, disney christmas, walt disney world christmas decorations
The clock struck midnight on November 1, 2020 and for many it marked the beginning of the holiday season. Disney’s Animal Kingdom may not have the classic Christmas decorations that just arrived at Magic Kingdom, but it does have the first Holiday Exclusive treat of 2020. The Autumn Tree of Life cupcake just debuted at Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus. Here’s what we think of it.
The Autumn Tree of Life Cupcake may have an autumn theme, but it is listed as a Holiday Exclusive treat on the menu and when looking at the mobile order option. It is a pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon buttercream on top, and garnished with a white chocolate tree of life, and fondant pumpkins. Inside is a delightful toffee cheesecake filling. The pumpkin cupcake is very similar to the Pumpkin Cupcake that was available for Halloween. But the extra toppings and fillings in this cupcake elevate it. This is definitely a great way to prepare for the holiday season and we can’t wait to try more holiday treats as they debut this year.
Warm Caramel Chocolate Brownie
Although it is not a Holiday Exclusive, you may be wondering about the Warm Caramel Chocolate Brownie listed in the mobile ordering above. We tried it on a previous visit and were disappointed it was not gooey on the inside. But, if you need a brownie fix, it will satisfy.
Do you prefer fall flavors or winter flavors like gingerbread and peppermint? Would you try this cupcake?
From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Christmas, Dining, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Snacks, animal kingdom snacks, disney christmas, disney cupcake
Expedition Everest is a masterclass in Disney storytelling and immersion. Plus, it sends guests in and out, up and down, and even backward in a man-made mountain that’s the tallest attraction at Walt Disney World. It checks all the boxes of a thrill ride but keeps guests coming back for its atmosphere and experience.
This attraction is about the closest you can get to an actual African safari and is an experience guests remember long after they’ve left the park. Guests also enjoy a variety of terrains and wildlife ranging from giraffes to elephants to cheetahs to lions. But since these are live animals, you never know which animals you might see and what they might be up to.
Flight of Passage is a thrill ride where guests remain stationary throughout the experience. They may feel like they’re flying, dipping, and moving at high speeds; in reality, they’ve never moved from their bike. Not only does this fact comfort adults who are wary of typical thrill rides, but the tone of the attraction is something adults love too.
